The NY Giants will have pressure to make the playoffs in 2015 after bringing back defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for Tom Coughlin and there could be some major changes on the roster, as Jason Pierre-Paul, Antrel Rolle, Walter Thurmond, Mathias Kiwanuka, Henry Hynoski, Jon Beason, Cullen Jenkins, Mike Patterson and others could be gone.
The Giants are coming into 2015 after missing the playoffs in three straight seasons and that is why Coughlin and company will feel the pressure from ownership. John Mara said that the team should be in the playoffs next year and with Coughlin coming back for another go around, it could be postseason or bist for the Giants. According to ESPN.com, the team hired back Steve Spagnuolo to take over as defensive coordinator following a previous run with the team, replacing Perry Fewell.
Coughlin decided to part ways with Fewell about a week after the season and this was the second year in a row that the Giants made a change at coordinator. Last year the team brought in Ben McAdoo and the offense showed some major signs of improvement and now the Giants hope Spagnuolo can do the same on defense. Last year the Giants defense was one of the worst in the league, ranking in the bottom five in yards allowed per game. The team ranked 30th in rushing yards allowed per game and while they improved down the stretch, they were uneven for most of the year.
The 55-year-old Spagnuolo was formerly with the team when they won the Super Bowl over the Patriots in 2008 and he was with the team from 2007 to 2008. Spagnuolo was also head coach of the Rams and defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints, coaching that unit to one of the worst seasons in NFL history. The Giants also looked at Dennis Allen and Raheem Morris as potential candidates and the team opted to go with Spagnuolo, who was an assistant with the Ravens.
The Giants have a top 10 draft pick this offseason after taking Odell Beckham in the first round this past year and some mocks have the team using it on defense. Landon Collins, Shane Ray and Dante Fowler have all come up as potential options, while Brandon Scherff, La'el Collins and Vic Beasley are also names that could be considered. JPP is likely to return after recording 12.5 sacks this season, but if he leaves the Giants could go after another defensive end in the first round.
The Giants went 6-10 this season and finished ahead of the Redskins in the NFC East division and they need a winning season in 2015 if Coughlin wants to remain head coach. Eli Manning had a bounce back year after throwing over 25 interceptions in 2013 and he should be even more comfortable in the Ben McAdoo offense next year. The team finished seventh in passing yards per game and if they can get some more consistency in the rushing game, they could be a dangerous offense. Manning threw for 4400 yards and the team found a star in Odell Beckham and if they can get Victor Cruz back healthy, the Giants could be back into the playoffs for the first time since winning their last Super Bowl.